The Earls of Leicester and Flatt Lonesome were the big winners at the 2016 installment of the International Bluegrass Music Association or IBMA Awards held during the World of Bluegrass conference in Raleigh, North Carolina Thursday (9-29) evening.

Supergroup The Earls of Leicester helmed by dobro player Jerry Douglas walked away with the evening’s biggest prize, Entertainer of the Year, while members Jerry Douglas, bass player Barry Bales, and banjoist Charlie Cushman all won in their respective Instrumental categories. Flat Lonesome won for Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year for “You’re The One,” and Album of the Year for Runaway Train.

The festivities also saw long-time bluegrass label Rounder Records and founders Bill Nowlin, Marian Leighton Levy and Ken Irwin inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, as well as guitarist Clarence White.

See a full list of winners below.

Entertainer of the Year: The Earls of Leicester

Male Vocalist of the Year: Danny Paisley

Female Vocalist of the Year: Becky Buller

Vocal Group of the Year: Flatt Lonesome

Instrumental Group of the Year: Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen

Song of the Year: “You’re the One,” Flatt Lonesome

Album of the Year: “Runaway Train,” Flatt Lonesome

Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: “All Dressed Up,” Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers

It’s not that I dislike the acts, but a fail to see how, given such a deep pool of talented players as Bluegrass has, that the most talented bunch boiled down to the winners above.
There are so many awesome players that it just seems so weird to see so many of them excluded in the same year.
Of the usual perennials, only Bryan Sutton and Jerry Douglas remain this year. and the Earls are a great band and probably the most deserving recipient, but it’s just so unusual to see a lineup like this.

It’s hard to believe ALL the other big Bluegrass acts were on an off album cycle.

Dailey and Vincent AND Del McCoury AND Flamekeeper AND Punch Brothers were all on off cycles?
A little strange…
And Flatt Lonesome’s big wins are surprising to me…

Becky Buller is a Tennessee transplant from MN. I first saw her in 2010/2011 when she was with Darren and Brooke Auldridge. At that time she had spent about 10 years with Valerie Smith and had a few songriting credits.By 2014 she had her first featured album including new music for Bill Monroe’s Southern Flavor. Her current single Phoenix Arise is not written by her but is a tribute to Mandelia MN.

Thanks Janice, I appreciate the detail and will check out her music.
I really believe artists playing bluegrass, zydeco and polka these days are in it for the music, as it has to be hard making a living playing music in those genres now.

Bluegrass is such an interesting music genre in so many ways , not the least of which being respect for and honouring the importance of tradition in informing its legions of players and fans.. But for me the most important defining factor is that its a genre where you cannot hide behind ANYTHING . You can play and sing- or you can’t . Period . If you can’t do one of or both of those things at a VERY highly-skilled professional level you are going to have a difficult time earning a living at it because there are so many who can and they are waiting in line right behind you for an opportunity to prove it . In these respects the genre is completely honest . A trendy production , God forbid , could never make up for a lack of skills and nor would a passionate fan want it to . I believe its closest musical cousin -genre is jazz for all of the same reasons . Add to the skills and tradition involved the opportunity for a SERIOUS songwriter to gain exposure and you have a near-perfect form of actual country music . Lets hope it remains so .